Senator Mark Warner (D-VA) Comes Out for Marriage Equality

Senator Mark Warner (D-VA) came out for marriage equality late this afternoon in a post on Facebook:

I support marriage equality because it is the fair and right thing to do. Like many Virginians and Americans, my views on gay marriage have evolved, and this is the inevitable extension of my efforts to promote equality and opportunity for everyone. I was proud to be the first Virginia governor to extend anti-discrimination protections to LGBT state workers. In 2010, I supported an end to the military’s ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ policy, and earlier this month I signed an amicus brief urging the repeal of DOMA. I believe we should continue working to expand equal rights and opportunities for all Americans.

Warner is the second Democratic senator in two days to suddenly evolve on marriage equality on the eve of two Supreme Court cases considering the issue.

Last night, Missouri senator Claire McCaskill said she, too, had evolved.

Senator Claire McCaskill (D-MO) Comes Out for Marriage Equality

Senator Claire McCaskill (D-MO) is the latest lawmaker to come around on the issue of marriage equality, in a Tumblr post this evening:

The question of marriage equality is a great American debate. Many people, some with strong religious faith, believe that marriage can only exist between a man and a woman. Other people, many of whom also have strong religious faith, believe that our country should not limit the commitment of marriage to some, but rather all Americans, gay and straight should be allowed to fully participate in the most basic of family values.

I have come to the conclusion that our government should not limit the right to marry based on who you love. While churches should never be required to conduct marriages outside of their religious beliefs, neither should the government tell people who they have a right to marry.

My views on this subject have changed over time, but as many of my gay and lesbian friends, colleagues and staff embrace long term committed relationships, I find myself unable to look them in the eye without honestly confronting this uncomfortable inequality. Supporting marriage equality for gay and lesbian couples is simply the right thing to do for our country, a country founded on the principals of liberty and equality.

Good people disagree with me. On the other hand, my children have a hard time understanding why this is even controversial. I think history will agree with my children.

In a Politico article published on Thursday, McCaskill suggested that her views were evolving. McCaskill had previously expressed support for civil unions and opposed Missouri's 2004 constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage.

Claire McCaskill Defeats Todd 'Legitimate Rape' Akin, Wins Re-election to Missouri Senate Seat

Senator Claire McCaskill is the projected winner of the Missouri race for U.S. Senate, defeating Rep. Todd Akin, whose August statement - “First of all, from what I understand from doctors [pregnancy from rape] is really rare. If it’s a legitimate rape, the female body has ways to try to shut that whole thing down.” - put a national focus on women's rights.

Todd Akin Compares Claire McCaskill to a Dog: AUDIO

Missouri "legitimate rape" Republican Todd Akin compared his opponent Claire McCaskill to a dog over the weekend.

Said Akin, at a fundraiser attended by Mike Huckabee: “She goes to Washington, D.C., it’s a little bit like one of those dogs, you know, ‘fetch.’ She goes to Washington, D.C., and gets all of these taxes and red tape and bureaucracy and executive orders and agencies, and she brings all of this stuff and dumps it on us in Missouri.”

Providing the Nth example of what Republicans think about women.

Listen, AFTER THE JUMP...

UPDATE: Akin adviser Rick Tyler doubled down on the comments today, tweeting, "If Claire McCaskill were a dog, she'd be a 'Bullshitsu'."